JLA Exterminators is a 2004 DC Universe novel by Christopher Golden. Things are business as usual for the Justice League of America when they find themselves dealing with a massive influx of new metahumans, most with heroic inclinations, and all of whom originate from the United Kingdom and are gaining powers due to the aftermath of one of the Justice League's first battles, with a sinister alien force that dispersed mysterious substances after being defeated. The JLA members investigate the origins of the phenomena and make friends and allies among the new metahumans. However, most of those new allies start abruptly dying or disappearing before it becomes clear that their new superpowered states are only a transitory phase before they mutate into dangerous, rampaging creatures that threaten the whole globe. The JLA is left combatting the threat, which their founders feel responsible for creating, while also trying to save the last of their new friends as he barely hangs on to his humanity.
Tropes in the book
- Blessed with Suck: Among the new metahumans are a retiree with clairvoyance and a doctor with Healing Hands. Both of them feel a sense of great responsiblity to use their powers to help people, but the doctor starts feeling overcome by the number of people who need his help, while the retiree is upset at how she has to tell some of their friends that she sees death in their near future. And then, they presumably mutate into mindless parasites offscreen like most of the other new superheroes.
- The Cameo: Several other groups of heroes, like the Teen Titans, the Justice Society of America, and Young Justice, briefly appear in the last act, fighting some of the rampaging monsters.
- Combo Platter Powers: The book features scores of citizens developing superpowers that signify their possession by an alien parasite, and many just have one power, but a few have odd combinations of abilities.
- An Amateur Sleuth named Bryan Francis has the ability to know people's locations by touching their inanimate possessions and is Nigh-Invulnerable (except against his own hand).
- An unnamed teenage girl who helps Wonder Woman and Aquaman fight two of the more villainous new metas can teleport and has enhanced strength.
- Glory Seeker: One of the more villainous new metahumans is a former R.A.F. pilot with an undistinguished record who uses his black hole-creating powers to attack Buckingham Palace, demanding a knighthood from the Queen. However, whether he's a mere narcissist or a Shell-Shocked Veteran is unclear.
- Guest-Star Party Member: A lot of focus is spent on Ian Partington, a new hero who wants to help the Justice League save people without becoming a full-blown costumed crimefighter, befriends the Flash and Green Lantern, and fights his mutation in the second act. He survives the book but loses his powers at the end, returning to his old life.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: One of the new metahumans is a woman who lost her son in IRA related violence and summons a golem to seek revenge before being talked down.
- Serial Killer: Martian Manhunter and Bryan Francis track down a man who has been murdering homeless people for the past several months.
